Elijah R. v. Superior Court of L.A. Cty.

Petitioner Elijah R. is the father of Angel R., a child who has been declared a dependent of the juvenile court. In the instant proceeding, Elijah seeks extraordinary review by writ (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 39.1B) of the juvenile court’s order setting a hearing under Welfare and Institutions Code section 366.26 for the selection and implementation of a permanent plan for Angel, with the possibility of termination of the parental relationship. Elijah, who was incarcerated during a significant portion of the dependency proceedings, contends he was not provided reasonable reunification services by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (the Department), especially during the period in which he was incarcerated. We will deny the petition, as there is substantial evidence in the record to support the juvenile court’s finding that adequate reunification services were offered to Elijah under the circumstances of this case.

Facts

Angel first came to the attention of the Department when she was born in November of 1994 with prenatal exposure to drugs and a positive toxicology screen for PCP. A petition filed by the Department pursuant to section 300…